Piano.



. Patented Oct. 3, |899.4 H. ZIEGLER.

PIANO.

(Application filed Kar. 18, 1899.) (No Model.)

A TTOHNEYS.

ca, Puma mm., wunmnmu. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Errea HENRY ZIEGLER, OF NEY YORK, N. Y.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,282, dated October` 3, 1899.

Application filed March 18,1899. Serial NO- 709l622- (N0 model-l To if/Z tlf/'1,0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ZIEGLER, a citizen of the United States, residing` in the city of New York, in the borough ot' Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in grand and upright pianos by which the wooden frame is connected in a permanent and effective manner with the metal string-frame, so that the strain of the strings both in longitudinal and up-and-down directions cannot change the position either of the wooden or of the iron frame; and the invention consists of a piano in which the braces and cross-block of the wooden frame are supported on a transverse lug at the lower end of a downwardly-extending bracket of the metal string-frame and connected by fastening-screws that pass through said lug at each side of said bracket; and the invention consists, further, of the combination of the braces and cross-block of the wooden frame oi the piano with the metal string-'framehaving a doinwardly-extending bracket and a transverse lug at l[he lower end of said bracket, fastening-screws connecting said lug, crossblock, and braces, and a wedge between the lug and cross-block, so that aviirm and reli able connection between the wooden frame and the metal string-frame of the piano is obtained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a top view of the frame of a grand piano with my improved support for the wooden frame. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2 2, Fig. l, drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4C 4, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the upper part of the string-frame of an upright piano,showingits connection with the wooden frame of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bent-wood rim, and a the braces of the wooden frame, of a grand or upright piano. Two of the braces a a converge toward each other and support the bass portion of the stringframe B, ywhile a third brace a supports the middle and treble portions of the metallic strin g-f rame. Connection between the braces a a. and o/"and the metal string-frame is obtained by means of one or more downwardlyextending brackets ZJ, which are cast integral with the metal string-frame B, near the wrestplank end of the saine, said brackets being each provided at its lower end with a lug t', that is arranged at right angles thereto and cast integral with said bracket. The inner ends of the braces a and CL/ and the lugb' rest against the usual cross-block d of the wooden frame and are connected therewith and with the braces a a by fastening-screws d, one screw being preferably arranged at each side of the bracket through the lug b, as shown clearly in Fig. i.

A wooden wedge c is interposed between the cross-block d and the slightly-inclined face of the lug 1), said wedge being retained by the screws, so as to be prevented from dropping in case of shrinkage ofthe wooden braces and cross-block. The wedge c serves 'for producing a solid connection between the lug b' and the cross-block d. When more than one connection between the wooden frame and the metal string-frame oi' the piano is made, an additional brace or braces for the treble proper can be used, as shown in Fig. l. The stringframe is then provided with as many brackets and transverse lugs as there are braces to be supported. By this arrangement the longitudinal as well as the up-anddown strain of the strings cannot change the posi-tion of either the wooden or iron frame, as both frames are firmly coupled together, so that a rigid and permanent connection between their parts is obtained.

The invention is also applicable to upright pianos, as shown in Fig. 5, in which the crossblock isinterposed between the wooden braces and the transverse lug at the end of the bracket of the string-frame. By locking the wooden braces and iron frame together at one or more points J[he strength and rigidity of the entire structure are increased, the better support for the cross-block and braces of the wooden frame obtained, and an increased resistance of the wooden frame and metal string-frame against the strains of the strings secured.

Having thus described my invention, I

IOC

ciaiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a piano, the combination, with the inetai string-frame, provided with a bracket or brackets having,` a transverse lug at its or theiriower ends, of the cross-block and braces of the wooden frame, and fastening-screws connecting` said lug-or lugs with the crossblock and braces, substantially as set forth.

2. In a piano, the combination, with the metal string-frame provided with a bracket having` a transverse lug at its lower end7 of the cross-block and braces of the wooden frame supported bysaid lug, fastening-screws connecting` said lug with the cross-block and brace or braces, and an intermediate wedgepiece between the Ing and cross-block, substantially as set forth.

3. In a piano, the combination, with the metal string-traine provided with a bracket and a transverse lng at the lower end of said bracket, said bracket and Ing being cast integral with the string-frame, of the crossblock and braces of the wooden `fraine supported by said lug, a wedge interposed between said 1u gs and'cross-block and the lug, and screws connecting said lug and wedge with said cross-block and braces, substantiaIly as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny invention I have signed my .naine in presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

HENRY ZIEGLER.

Titnessesz 

